Brief Description: Making the interest arbitration provisions of the public employees' collective bargaining act apply to certain employees of certain juvenile detention facilities.

Sponsors: Representatives Takko and Blake.

Hearing Date: 1/26/06

Staff: Jill Reinmuth (786-7134).

Background:

County employees bargain their wages and working conditions under the Public Employees' Collective Bargaining Act (PECBA). For uniformed personnel, the PECBA recognizes the public policy against strikes as a means of settling labor disputes. To resolve impasses over contract negotiations involving these uniformed personnel, the PECBA requires binding arbitration.

Uniformed personnel include correctional employees who are employed in jails by counties with a population of 70,000 or more, and who are trained for and charged with responsibility for custody of inmates in the jail. The employees listed as uniformed personnel also include, among others: fire fighters in all cities and counties and law enforcement officers in larger cities and counties, general authority peace officers and fire fighters employed by certain port districts, security forces at a nuclear power plant, and publicly employed advanced life support technicians. Other public employees covered by interest arbitration include state patrol officers and certain transit employees under the PECBA and ferry workers under the Marine Employees' Public Employment Relations Act.

Summary of Bill:

The interest arbitration provisions for uniformed personnel in the Public Employees' Collective Bargaining Act are extended to correctional employees who are employed in juvenile detention facilities by counties with a population of 70,000 or more.

"Detention facility" is defined in the same manner as in the state Juvenile Justice Act. "Detention facility" means a county juvenile detention facility, and includes county group homes, inpatient substance abuse programs, juvenile basic training camps, and electronic monitoring.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.